‘American Hustle’ and ‘Gravity’ Lead 2014 Oscar Nominations

'American Hustle' and 'Gravity' Lead 2014 Oscar Nominations

David O. Russell’s “American Hustle” and Alfonso Cuarón’s “Gravity” led the 2014 Academy Award nominations, taking 10 nods a piece including best picture and best director.

In the best picture category, they were joined by “Captain Phillips,” “Dallas Buyers Club,” “Her,” “Nebraska,” “Philomena,” “12 Years a Slave” and “The Wolf of Wall Street.” Notably for the third consecutive year, there were 9 best picture nominations.

“12 Years a Slave” was also nominated for best director and best adapted screenplay, though ended up with 9 nominations. Clearly not too shabby, but many expected the film to lead the count, and its snubs in best cinematography and best original score were certainly surprises. Though they were nothing compared to a quintet of major acting snubs: The absence of Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Robert Redford, Daniel Bruhl and Oprah Winfrey were varying degrees of shocking. Thompson, Hanks and Bruhl all got nods from SAG, BAFTA, the Globes and the Critics Choice. To get all four of those and still miss out on Oscar is a very rare occasion.

Who got in instead? Well, basically the entire cast of “American Hustle,” with Christian Bale and Amy Adams sneaking into the lead categories, and thus helping push out Redford, Hanks and Thompson. “Wolf of Wall Street” stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill both made it in as well, as did Sally Hawkins, whose performance in “Blue Jasmine” took out Oprah.

Oprah’s “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” was actually snubbed altogether, while other films that fared very poorly overall included “Rush” (no nods at all) “Saving Mr. Banks” (one for score) and “Inside Llewyn Davis” (two, for cinematography and sound).

Performance by an actor in a leading roleChristian Bale in “American Hustle”Bruce Dern in “Nebraska”Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Wolf of Wall Street”Chiwetel Ejiofor in “12 Years a Slave”Matthew McConaughey in “Dallas Buyers Club”

Performance by an actor in a supporting roleBarkhad Abdi in “Captain Phillips”Bradley Cooper in “American Hustle”Michael Fassbender in “12 Years a Slave”Jonah Hill in “The Wolf of Wall Street”Jared Leto in “Dallas Buyers Club”

Performance by an actress in a leading roleAmy Adams in “American Hustle”Cate Blanchett in “Blue Jasmine”Sandra Bullock in “Gravity”Judi Dench in “Philomena”Meryl Streep in “August: Osage County”

Performance by an actress in a supporting roleSally Hawkins in “Blue Jasmine”Jennifer Lawrence in “American Hustle”Lupita Nyong’o in “12 Years a Slave”Julia Roberts in “August: Osage County”June Squibb in “Nebraska”

Original screenplay“American Hustle” Written by Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell“Blue Jasmine” Written by Woody Allen“Dallas Buyers Club” Written by Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack“Her” Written by Spike Jonze“Nebraska” Written by Bob Nelson

Best documentary short subject“CaveDigger” Jeffrey Karoff“Facing Fear” Jason Cohen“Karama Has No Walls” Sara Ishaq“The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life” Malcolm Clarke and Nicholas Reed“Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall” Edgar Barens

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)“The Book Thief” John Williams“Gravity” Steven Price“Her” William Butler and Owen Pallett“Philomena” Alexandre Desplat“Saving Mr. Banks” Thomas Newman

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)“Alone Yet Not Alone” from “Alone Yet Not Alone”Music by Bruce Broughton; Lyric by Dennis Spiegel“Happy” from “Despicable Me 2”Music and Lyric by Pharrell Williams“Let It Go” from “Frozen”Music and Lyric by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez“The Moon Song” from “Her”Music by Karen O; Lyric by Karen O and Spike Jonze“Ordinary Love” from “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”Music by Paul Hewson, Dave Evans, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen; Lyric by Paul Hewson

Achievement in production design“American Hustle” Production Design: Judy Becker; Set Decoration: Heather Loeffler“Gravity” Production Design: Andy Nicholson; Set Decoration: Rosie Goodwin and Joanne Woollard“The Great Gatsby” Production Design: Catherine Martin; Set Decoration: Beverley Dunn“Her” Production Design: K.K. Barrett; Set Decoration: Gene Serdena“12 Years a Slave” Production Design: Adam Stockhausen; Set Decoration: Alice Baker

Comments

Edith
May 12, 2016 12:41 pm

I find unreasonable how everyone judges the actors and even the whole production for the themes of the films. If you are not in favor of a specific topic (say, scandalous), does that mean the film shouldn't be recognized/nominated for its attributions? See, films go beyond that. There is a whole production that could be so easily underrated, underestimated and even disregarded only because some suggest that "scandalous" films such as " The Wolf of Wall Street " and " American Hustle " do not deserve it because " they don't fit the criteria. In my opinion they deserve merit and recognition too….they've earned it. Therefore, as much as we all scratch our heads wondering why? I must conclude that we all know in the back of our minds, and deep inside of us, that Leo DiCaprio truly deserves recognition for ANY of his work. Quite frankly had Leo not been nominated, it would've been the biggest screw you to Leo ever.

Wow, I was so sure that Thompson and Hanks would get nominated, I think they gave so amazing performances.
And as much as I LOVE Meryl Streep, I don't quite understand why she was nominated instead of Thompson. Am I the only one who thinks that her acting was a bit over the top in August: Osage County? I was a bit disappointed at the end of the movie because i really expected something that satisfied me more (although I would have nominated Streep instead of Bullock, but well, Bullock's just loved in Hollywood)

I am ok with all of them. Not happy at all. I mean no love for inside llewyn davis, saving mr banks, blue is the warmest color and frutvale station but thats fine. The only thing that irritates me is the nomination of christain bale. Like seriously out of great contender like Hanks, Redford, Isaac, Pheonix, Whitaker, Jackmen, Jordan and many more, Oscar pick him. He is the worst thing in the film. The film is bad because of him. I mean if they really give American hustle and gravity an equal nomination. They should just add them in best makeup and hairstyling which is more appropriate. Best actor category is completely miss use for an oscar this year. but still i am looking forward to see this year. all of us knew that oscar will nominate someone stupid and less desrving and american hustle cast as it is this year stupid oscar choice but still wait to watch the oscars

I'm a bit bummed that 'Inside Llewyn Davis' and 'Her' didn't get more love from the Academy. I had preferred Oscar Isaac and Joaquin Phoenix getting nods over Christian Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio. At least 'Her' got a Best Picture nod as well as one for screenplay. Not sure why the Coen brothers' movie didn't appeal to the voters – I absolutely loved it.

The snubs were okay, I suppose. Best Actor was crowded, so for Tom Hanks to miss out wasn't all that surprising. Emma Thompson should have been nominated for Best Actress, but we all know how much the voters love Meryl – so that's just tough luck. Either way that category is a lock for Cate Blanchett, so it doesn't really matter all that much.

So…Cate Blanchett is going to win right?
Nothing against her or her acting, but…

Sandra Bullock should win best actress. I do know maybe no-one agrees with me, but she gave the best performance of 2013. Cate Blanchett`s acting belongs to the theatre. Nothing special in "Blue Jasmine", but her acting came fron make-up department and editingroom.
Nevermind….

Poor Daniel Bruhl. :(
And I don't think I want to live in a world where American Hustle leads the nominations for the most prestigious film awards there is. I am baffled by the critical success of this film.